The Eastside Lady Bulldogs were not all bark Monday versus the Boyd Lady Broncos. The two teams were closer in the third quarter than the score reflects and at the buzzer Boyd was chased away with a 38-24 loss.
For Boyd, Alaina Stiles led all scorers with a game-high 16 points. Despite her efforts, Stiles could not fend off the attack of the Lady Bulldog offense alone.
To start the fourth quarter, Boyd trailed 24-16 and the game was still in the balance. The Lady Broncos stunned the Eastside home crowd after Anna Jones dropped a couple of quick baskets and pulled within four, 24-20. In the closing minutes, the Eastside defense was not giving up anything close or inside. Stiles had to do it from the free-throw line. She went 4-of-6 as time ticked off the clock.
The Lady Bulldogs had to adjust on the fly and Eastside tried to keep the offensive momentum on its side. Shelby Smartt dialed up a shot from long distance and connected from behind the 3-point line. Smartt continued to challenge the Lady Bronco defense and she added four points after the 3-pointer. Madelyn Powers added four points as time wound down and the Lady Bulldogs pulled away with a 38-24 win at Eastside.
The first quarter was a close one as the two teams used the opening period to feel out the other on offense and defense. Savannah Winfree scored her only two points in the first. Stiles started the game with four in the first for Boyd and the Lady Broncos trailed 6-4 after one.
In the second, the Lady Broncos stayed just a step ahead of the Lady Bulldog defense. Jones and Stiles combined for eight points to keep Boyd in the game.
Sarah Grace Vinson led the Lady Bulldog offense in the second as the Boyd defense focused its attention on Smartt. Vinson knocked down a pair of shots in the second just before the half. Powers added two points to the Eastside lead as the first half expired. Boyd climbed back into the game and locked the score at 12.
Eastside came out the stronger of the two teams in the second and the Lady Bulldogs claimed the lead 24-16 after Smartt was able to get open looks and buried three shots for six points. Emeri Cummings worked inside the low post and added to the Eastside lead.
The Lady Bronco offense struggled to get back on track after the end swap. Stiles was the only Lady Bronco to connect from outside the paint for Boyd. The two teams continued and Boyd made a slight run for the lead to open the second half but watched the Lady Bulldogs slip away in the fourth.
Eastside owned the fourth quarter and the Lady Bulldogs extended their lead and held on for a 38-24 win over Boyd.
LADY BULLDOG SCORING – Shelby Smartt 13, Madelyn Powers 11, Sarah Grace Vinson 6, Emeri Cummings 6, Savannah Winfree 2
LADY BRONCO SCORING – Alaina Stiles 16, Anna Jones 8